Every year, the Journalism Innovations conference brings together some of the brightest innovators and entrepreneurs in media to help define the future of the profession. This forum will continue this work with a new focus on diversity of coverage, community engagement and addressing the digital divide.

The even is sponsored by NorCal SPJ, G.W. Williams Center for Independent Journalism, University of San Francisco, Independent Arts and Media, Center for Media Justice and Media Alliance.

One of the most exciting trends in news is the opening of dialogue between journalists and community members. How the landscape is reconfigured will depend on ideas and demands for coverage from the communities we hope to serve.

With this in mind, the conference will host two forums in March to provide space and time for an open conversation among community representatives, nonprofit organizations, citizen journalists and media professionals. A core question posed by these forums will be: How are we to achieve an inclusive new-media system?

The goal of these forums is to bring together local stakeholders to explore new ways to practice local journalism that:

•Acknowledges a changing journalism ecosystem
•Builds the influence of community, citizen and new media while honoring journalism ethics and principles
•Opens up new platforms for more diverse voices to reach wider audiences, especially by using new technologies and social networking strategies
•Elevates local models and best practices that can be shared nationally

Forum Discussion Areas

Media Representation and Accountability

Ownership and Diversity of Media Outlets

Regulation, Policy and What’s at Stake for Communities

Community Engagement in Shaping the New Media Landscape

Outcomes

The two community dialogues will result in a report to be presented to national and regional leaders of the Society of Professional Journalists at the Journalism Innovations III conference in May. The report will be used to start conversations with these leaders about how all journalists can use this time of media transformation to improve coverage of their respective local and regional communities,. It also will be used to emphasize the need to cover and write about the changing media in a way the public understands and that enables community and news stakeholders to participate in public policy decisions.

The report will also provide the basis for a plenary session at the conference, a database of community and journalist participants, and a map for building stronger relationships amongst local journalism stakeholders.

Other Forums scheduled at:

East Bay Forum:
Laney College Auditorium
900 Fallon St
Oakland, CA
March 30, 2010, 5-7:30 PM

Contact:

Kwan Booth
(510.290.8274 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              510.290.8274      end_of_the_skype_highlighting)
Conference Producer
(415) 738-4975
JI3@artsandmedia.net
http://journalisminnovations.org